Circular-knitting machine.



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CIRCULAR KNITTNG IACHINE.

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Vlieg/ c' UNITED STATES" PATENT FFICEI.

FRANK WILCOMB, OF PAWTUCKET, RI-IODE ISLAND.`

CIRGULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

srnCIrIcAfrr'on-T forming part 1f-Lettere' Patent No. 629,11 1e, dated July- 18, 189e.

ippiica'ion and regia s0,- i's'es'. Manassas-1s. (No maisY To all whom it may. cozfcez'n."

Be it known-that I, FRANK WILooMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawtucket, Rhode Island,have inventedV certain new and useful Improvements;in Circular- Knitting Machines, of which thefollowin g is a specification.

My invention relates to knitting-machinesv harder upon the needles or to allow the device to adjust itself laterally, as may be necessary. y Y

In the drawings, Figurel is a central vertical section of the machine Fig. 2, a plan view, and Fig. 3 a view of a modification in which web-holders are shown.- Figs. 4 and 5 represent the diderent positions of the nee-.I

dles.

In the drawings, A the sinkers, held in a bed C, which, together with the cylinder, is stationary in the present instance. The presser-ring D is supported by the stationary sinker-bed outside of the circle of needles and below the sinkers. Inside of the needle-circle a presser-wheel Eis arranged, (though I do not limit myself to this wheel form of pressing device,) which is supported to rotate about its journal-pin 2, carried by the arm 3, adjustably held at 'its threaded end by nuts 4 in a bracket 5, pivoted to turn horizontally on a pin 6 and having a tailpiece 7 in the range of adjustable stop-screws 9 10, so that the lateral swing of the presser and its support canbe regulated. These part-s are `carried by the'sinker camring Gto revolve therewith. In action when the point of the beard of the needle' is 'retracted below the plane of the presser-ring the presser wheel or plate, as the case may be, engages the stem of the needle and forces is the cylinder, and

l itout `from its. normal vertical-plane, and

thus causes the beard to be depressed by coming in contact 'with the outer presser-ring. This pressure is directly in the radial plane in which the needle with its beard stands, and there is no pressure of the beard laterally of the needle and no 'tendencyV to V'force the beard to one side of the needle.

Formerly in circular machines where independently-operated spring-needles were used the presser-plate has been arranged to press the beards of the needles by sliding laterally l across the said beards. This form is objectionable on account of the wear on the deli,- cate beard of the needle and the tendency to force the beards sidewise land, to break them.

By the use of the stationary ring arranged outl sidelof the needle-'circle and a Vpresser wheel or plate traveling against the stem of the needle and forcing the beard against the stationary plate as the needle is being retracted there is no side pressure on the beard.

The presser-wheel of my machine is made adjustable to get more or'less pressure by means of its bracket and thumb-nuts, and it is also pivoted so as to allow it to swing automatically on its pivotal point as the machine is being reciprocated when knitting on half ofthe needles, as wouldA be the case when making the heel and toe of a so-called seamless stocking. This swinging movement will varyin'extent according to the form of knitting-cams used in the cam-ring. It might be usedin connectionwith knitting-cams where no swiveling motion would be necessary, in which case the adj nsting devices might be dispensed with.

I have shown the invention in connection with a stationary cylinder, sinker-ring, and presser-ring, and a traveling presser wheel or plate inside the cylinder, it being understood,

however, thata rotary cylinder, sinker-bed, and presser-ring, and a non-rotating support for the presser Wheel or plate may be used.

Instead of a rotating wheel, which I consider the best form, Il may use a plate or nonrotating device.

In the drawings I have shown a well-known form of machine in which there are devices (shown Vat I-I) for making some of the needles inoperative in a retracted position, with the `nose of the needle below the sinker, so that IOO in knitting with a portion of the needles in active operation and others inoperative the thread being fed by the s'in'kers Will pass devices in connection With web-holders I, and

I .desire to be understood that the new pressing devices are applicable to any of the Wellknown forms of circular-knitting machines having independent needles of the springneedle type With or without Web-holders or means for making the needles inoperative.

I claiml. In combination,in a circular-knitting n1achine having independently-operated springneedles, a presser-ring outside of the needlecircle and a pressing device inside of the needle-circle to press the beard ontwardlyagainst the ring, said. needle-circle and presser-ring having no movement 'relative to each other in a circumferential direction, substantially as described.

2. In combination in acircular-lnitting machine having independently-operated springneedles, a presser-ring outside of the needlecircle and a rotating presser-wheel inside of `the needle-circle to press the beards outwardly against the ring,said needle-circle and presser-ring having no movement relative to each otherin a circumferential direction, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a ci rcular-knitting machine having independently-operated springneedles, a presser-ring outside of the needlecircle, an inner presser device to press the beards against the presser-ring, the sinkers withA operating means and the web-holder7 said needle-circle and presser-ring having no movement relative to each other in a circumferential direction,substantiall y as described.

4. In combination in a circular-knitting machine having independently-operated springneedles, the presser-ring outside of the needle-circle, the presser device inside of the needle-circle to press the needles outwardly and means for making the needles inoperative', said needle-circle and presser-ring having no movement relative to each other in a circumfe rential direction,substantially as described.

5. In combination in a circular-knitting machine having independently operated needles,the presser-ring outside the needle-circle,

the presser device inside of the said circle and means for adjusting the device toward and from the needle-circle, said needle-circle and presser-:ring having no movement relative to each other in a circumferential direction, substantially as described.

6. In combination in a circular-knittin g machine having independently-operated needles,the presser-ring outside the needle-circle, the presser device inside of the said circle and means for allowing adjustment of 'the presser device to either side of the centerline of the needle-cams, said needle-circle and presser-ring having no movement relative to each other in a circumferential direction, substantially as described.

7. In combination in a circular-knitting machine having independently-operated needles,the presser-rin g outside the needle-circlej and the presser device inside of said circle pivotally supported to swing automatically to either side of the centerline of the needlecams, substantially as described.

8. In combinatiomin a circular-knitting machine having iindependently-operated springneedles, a presser-rin g extending completely around the needle-circle and -at a slight distance outside the vertical plane of the needlebeards, and a pressing device inside of the needle-circle to press the needles in succession outwardly against the ring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK WILCOMU.'

IVitnesses:

HENRY E. COOPER, L. B. M innLn'roN. 

